Genetic Health & Testing

Why Genetic Testing Matters

True breeding isn’t about producing puppies — it’s about building generations. At Angrboda Bandogs, we take that responsibility seriously. Every dog in our program is carefully evaluated not just for structure and temperament, but for the genetic health they carry forward.

Our goal is to improve with every generation, maintaining the natural athleticism, working ability, and balanced temperament that define the Bandog — while safeguarding against hereditary disease and structural weakness.

Genetic testing allows us to make informed, ethical choices that strengthen the breed rather than compromise it.

Types of Genetic Testing

1. DNA Health Screening (Embark & UC Davis)

Each breeding prospect is DNA-tested through Embark for Breeders and, when needed, UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory for more advanced or specific analysis.

Embark provides broad-spectrum screening for over 250 inherited conditions, including:

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
MDR1 Sensitivity
Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
Cystinuria
And many others relevant to mastiff, bulldog, and working-type lineages

UC Davis Testing:
We also use UC Davis for more specialized work such as:

Merle Length Analysis: Determines the exact length of merle alleles, allowing us to safely and responsibly plan pairings without risk of double-merle outcomes.
Paternity Testing for Dual-Sired Litters: Occasionally, when a female is bred to more than one male, UC Davis confirms exact parentage for record accuracy and genetic tracking.
Trait-Specific Testing for Puppies: Early testing can help us identify desired genetic combinations or specific traits in young pups, aiding us in selecting potential keepers that align with long-term program goals.

Benefits:
Comprehensive testing gives us a complete genetic map of each dog — preventing inherited disorders, verifying lineage, and promoting genetic diversity while ensuring safety in every pairing.

Risks Without Testing:
Skipping or minimizing testing allows unseen recessive genes to silently spread through a breeding program, resulting in health problems that don’t appear until adulthood — long after the damage is done.

COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) Management

The COI measures the percentage of genetic similarity between parents. We use both Embark’s genomic COI data and traditional pedigree analysis to maintain balanced diversity — tight enough to preserve consistency and predictability, but open enough to sustain vitality and longevity.

Benefits:

Helps prevent immune weakness, reproductive difficulties, and inbreeding depression
Strengthens long-term vigor and fertility
Maintains working intelligence and balanced temperament

Risks Without COI Management:
High inbreeding can reduce litter size, increase congenital defects, and create temperament instability. Over time, it weakens the foundation of a bloodline — problems that may not appear until several generations later.

Color & Trait Testing

While color is never a driving force in our program, understanding color and pattern genetics is essential for responsible pairing. We test for merle, cryptic merle, dilute, intensity, and other color-related genes to ensure both safety and accuracy in our breeding outcomes.

Merle Length Testing via UC Davis is especially important — it identifies whether a dog carries a short, medium, or long merle allele, which determines how it can be safely paired. This prevents double-merle or partial-lethal combinations while maintaining healthy, visually unique dogs.

Benefits:
Allows for responsible pairings, improved predictability, and elimination of preventable defects related to pigment genes.
Risks Without Testing:
Breeding merles blindly can result in deafness, vision impairment, and other health defects — or accidental production of double-merle pups that often cannot survive.

The Limitations of DNA Testing

Genetic testing is powerful, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. A “clear” dog genetically can still fail in structure, nerve, or function — which is why we evaluate the whole animal, not just the code behind it.

Every Angrboda breeding dog is also:

Structurally evaluated for correctness and efficiency of movement
Temperament-tested through real-world work and exposure
Monitored long-term for reproductive health, endurance, and stability

Genetics gives us the blueprint, but the real test is in the living dog.

How We Use Genetic Data in Pairing Decisions

Before any breeding is approved, we compare DNA health results, COI levels, color genetics, and trait markers to ensure the pair complements genetically, structurally, and temperamentally.

We don’t breed for trends or convenience — we breed for balance, integrity, and purpose.
Genetic data supports those decisions, giving us the confidence that every litter born here strengthens the future, not just the present.

Preserving Our Legacy Through Knowledge and Science

At Angrboda Bandogs, genetics isn’t about chasing perfect scores or fashionable clears — it’s about stewardship.
We are building durable, stable, working dogs that reflect both the science and spirit of their heritage.

By combining modern DNA technology from Embark and UC Davis with our 18+ years of observation, selection, and real-world evaluation, we ensure that each generation carries forward not only strength and soundness — but purpose.

If Color Isn’t Important, Why Test for It?

We don’t test for color to chase trends — we test to breed responsibly.
Color itself doesn’t matter, but the genetics behind it can.
By understanding those genes, we prevent health risks and protect exceptional dogs that deserve a place in the gene pool, no matter what color they wear.

Color, Myth, and Modern Genetics